Panel Saw Frame

[Alan East]

How practical is a panel saw for a hobbyist? I'm trying to put together a shop. I'm creating shop stands to get back into the feel of working with wood again after several years absence. Some of the projects for practice are an outfeed table, router stand, drill press stand and storage. All of them require cutting panels. Shop is in a basement with lots of room (25' x 30") I've been clamping a four foot 3/4" square piece of steel to the piece as a guide but like the idea of going vertical for easier reaching. Rockler shows a panel saw plan http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5311&TabSelect=Details#plan and a circular saw trolley http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10548 Anybody used these or know of somethin equivalent? Maybe you can tell me a better way to work sheets with a circular or table saw?

[Matt Tawes]

Hey Alan,

I would say that about 90% of us both pro and hobbyist for small shop use have guided circular saw systems such as Festool, EZ Smart, Clamp and guide, homemade and such vs. a panel saw. Panel saws consume far too much space in my opinion. Take a look at some of the systems I mentioned and I think you will prefer them for handling sheet goods.
I've used a variety over the years but recently started using the Festool guided saw sys. (pricey but nice).

[Bruce Benjamin]

Alan, I think you'll be much better served with a guide system for a good quality circular saw. I think the EZ Smart is the best and most versatile system but the Festool is good too, just not as versatile. Here's a link to the EZ... http://www.eurekazone.com/. The EZ is less expensive too. There's the EZ Smart forum also here at Saw Mill Creek with lots of great info and Dino, the owner and inventor of the EZ System posts on there just about everyday. Which every brand or type you decide to go with you should do some research and ask plenty of questions.

Bruce

[Doug McLauchlan]

I too recently became a member of the EX Smart family and I love the fact that I can back the truck up to the garage, slide the sheet goods off the truck right onto the cutting table and I'm ready to go.:) No lifting full sheets of anything anymore !

The best part is not having to spend 20 minutes standing around in Lowes / HD listening to the mantra "Help needed in the lumber cutting area" repeated over and over on the PA !! :D

[Jeffrey Makiel]

Alan,
I built my own panel saw from Woodsmith Magazine's plan: http://woodsmith.com/plans/panel-saw/

It's a very clever design. I've had it for about 12 or more years. I made one minor improvement which allows me to quickly go from crosscut to rip in seconds with the addition of a few small toggle clamps. The best part of a panel saw is its repeatability for rips. But it is large, and clumsy to move around. However, the Woodsmith's version folds up flat against the wall for storage in my garage, and the extension wings are removable with a couple of threaded knobs. Also, the circular saw can be removed for freehand work.

cheers, Jeff